There is no question that student debt is real, and it's no fun. Debt feels like, when I acted out as a child and my mom told me I would get the punishment when my daddy got home. The whole day was ruined! Just knowing that I would have to wait for my daddy to get home to pay up and get punished was enough punishment itself. Okay, but in all seriousness, student loans are important, they help us get our education in the first place, but did you ever think you could cut back on those loans and have less debt and more freedom when you graduated school?

I'm telling you that you can. Apply for scholarships. Apply for as many as you can find! Who wouldn't want to win $500, $1,000 or maybe even $10,000 scholarships?

Going back to the great debt example of a child waiting for punishment...I was the little girl who would try to sweeten the deal. If I knew I was going to get punished when my daddy came home, I would clean my room, and maybe even run to give my dad a hug when he came through the door, you know, pull the heart strings. But I soon learned that when you do the crime, you pay the time. If I disobeyed my mom correction was on they way.

I'm in no way suggesting that having debt deserves "punishment", or is a result of wrong doing. What I am suggesting is, just like that feeling, of waiting all day for your punishment affected your day...debt can't stay hidden forever, it can actually affect your life.

So what's my point?

Be smart, apply for scholarships throughout your college career. Pay off student loans as soon as you can and stay Young & Free!

Michigan First is giving away 3, $10,000 3, $5,000 3, $3,000 and up to 31 $1,000 scholarships. All you have to do is apply on time for your chance to win. Will you take that step for your chance to get some free money and get rid of some burdens of student debt? Go for it!